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This year I will be making a series of blogs concerning the musical production, Strike the Rock! and the publication of Coming Around, a book of poems that is a companion work to the musical production. Before launching the series, however, I’d like to share an earlier essay by Robert Rose, “Rejuvenation,” because its message is another way of saying what I shall present in music and poetry: REJUVENATION by Robt. Rose 20161113

Then I took a break to join the crowd listening to five poets in a small bookstore in Richmond, BookPeople, which is currently doing a GoFundMe drive: https://www.gofundme.com/bookpeopleva. Perhaps you’d like to join us.

Here’s the shop:

The poets spoke behind this bay window:

Here’s some of the crowd behind the window.

There were many notables present–

Susan Hankla read first. I missed part of her presentation, but this will give you an idea.

A bid beyond the Id

Pardon me if I fall flat
on my Ars Poetica
when I say that we are only obliged to breathe.

The squats, fits, snits
and other counterfeits,
whether they be formes fixes
or simply the vexations
swallowed for approval
by committee
may be required
to avoid pity
or to be allowed to hang around,
even by your anapest and trochee,
but you are not obliged to be admired.
You only are obliged to breathe.

Take in capaciously all harm and grief and loss,
warmth, honesty, and aspiration;
yes, and also perversity and animosity,
and insulation from seeing and inflicting pain.
Breathe in and then breathe out.
Give order, virtue, estimation, valuation,
choice and will to live,
to change and plan,
transmogrify and glorify.
Take and give;
Do not stand pat.